Pope Tears Open Wounds, Accuses Victims Of Pedophile Priest Of Slander

It seems Pope Francis has a problem with the victims of pedophiles; until proof of Bishop Juan Barros's complicity in hiding evidence of Reverend Fernando Karadima's sex crimes is presented to him, accusations against Barros are "all calumny".

Chilean Reverand Karadima had been sentenced by the Vatican to a lifetime of "penance and prayer" for his 2011 sex crimes. A Chilean judge notes that although charges had to be dropped because too much time had elapsed, there was considerable proof of his crimes.

"As if I could have taken a selfie or a photo while Karadima abused me and others and Juan Barros stood by watching it all," said Juan Carlos Cruz, one of the alleged victims in a tweet.

According to victims, Karadima would kiss and fondle victims in the Santiago parish he was in charge of. Barros witnessed the abuse, but did nothing.

Only when victims went public with their accusations did the Vatican react by launching an investigation that resulted in Karadima's removal from his ministry, and his "sentence".

Despite the accusations against Barros, the Pope would name him bishop of the southern diocese of Osorno:

"These people are truly crazy, and the pontiff talks about atonement to the victims. Nothing has changed, and his plea for forgiveness is empty."

Apparently the Pope hoped to meet victims of abuse and ask for their forgivenes for the crimes of pastors. However, in response to queries by a Chilean journalist he said:

"The day they bring me proof against Bishop Barros, I'll speak. There is not one shred of proof against him. It's all calumny. Is that clear?"

Anne Barrett Doyle, from BishopAccountability.org, said it was "sad and wrong" for the Pope to attempt to discredit victims in this manner since "the burden of proof here rests with the church, not the victims - and especially not with victims whose veracity has already been affirmed."

Patrio Navia, a political science professor at the Diego Potrales University, noted that although Pope Francis had done more than the Chilean bishops had by acknowledging that there had indeed been a sex abuse scandal...

"Then right before leaving, Francis turns around and says "By the way, I don't think Barros is guilty. Show me some proof... In the typical Chilean family, parents (now) think twice before sending their kids to Catholic school because you never know what is going to happen," he said.